Stateline Tasmania

Nick Mooney

AIRLIE WARD, PRESENTER: As we saw earlier in the program, Tasmanian devils are absorbing many scientists at the moment. Few understand the carnivore better than government biologist Nick Mooney.

He spent more than three decades both out in the field and behind a desk trying to progress all kinds of wildlife conservation.

This week was his last week with the Wildlife Management Branch but, as he told Lucy Shannon, he is most certainly not retiring.

NICK MOONEY, WILDLIFE BIOLOGIST: This is me, I guess at 12 with a brown falcon which was called Cleo. I was a young fellow, very interested in wildlife, parents pretty tolerant of that sort of thing.

And I met an older fellow, Bernie, who knew a lot more about birds of pray and got me started. And from that kind of pet keeping essentially we progressed into rehabilitation because there's always birds injured, even then.

LUCY SHANNON, REPORTER: Raised in Georgetown it was one of those archetypal Tasmanian childhoods - six kids, a big backyard close to nature with hours spent on and under the water.

While the sea had its appeal, raptors were Nick Mooney's first love.

NICK MOONEY: This is 1977. I'd just started with then Parks and Wildlife and was actually on an occasion with the ABC there. That was probably the first time we hooked in the media to what we were doing.

LUCY SHANNON: The hairstyle might have changed but his nature conservation message hasn't. In 32 years as a government scientist, there have been few wildlife issues Nick Mooney hasn't progressed.

He negotiated with the forestry industry to get wedge tail eagle established and helped develop early responses to oil spills and whale strandings.

NICK MOONEY: This was in '98 at Strahan where we were experimenting with using large tractors and back hoes for digging trenches around whales to try and keep them right side up and afloat.

I'd have to say some of these whale strandings I've attended are the most emotionally draining experiences I've had outside of, you know, family tragedies so to speak.

LUCY SHANNON: Wednesday was Nick Mooney's last day at work. Stateline's request to look back at the past three decades led him to dust off thousands of slides.

At times, they're like being in a boy's own adventure story. He really did work as an iguana catcher Venezuela, all in the name of science of course. The job was offered mainly because he was known for being a very good tree climber

NICK MOONEY: Our key way was to chase them up trees and I would climb up after them and noose them or grab them and they would jump out and I would have to yell at Brian, "Iguana coming down," and he wouldn't know where it would be coming so he'd have to, he ended up with a few wrapped around his head.

LUCY SHANNON: There have been numerous trips to Antarctica doing everything from guiding tourists to driving zodiacs.

But in recent years, it's been Tasmania's largest carnivore that's had much of his attention. He's driven the push for funding to try to and save the endangered devil.

NICK MOONEY: I've always enjoyed starting an issue like that and trying to get it consolidated and helping people move on with it.

LUCY SHANNON: Rearing tasmanian devil orphans before the emergence of the facial tumour disease taught him a lot.

NICK MOONEY: Absolutely uncompromising wild animal. Fantastic things. And myth after myth after myth gets debunked when you get to know these animals.

That's not yet probably terribly uncomfortable for her.

LUCY SHANNON: He says he wouldn't be surprised if the disease was caused by chemicals in the environment but is more interested in focusing on the future:

NICK MOONEY: I have a deep suspicion that goes beyond hope that devils have an evolutionary ability to cope with shrinking down to small sizes in their population and expanding again. I hope that's the case.

The history would say it is the case. Their physique, their ecology, their behaviour would say that is the case.

LUCY SHANNON: He's never forgotten the role a mentor played in getting started and has tried to do the same for others

NICK MOONEY: If you don't communicate your subject and hand on some of the responsibility you're not doing your job properly. People like myself have had extraordinary privileges and part of that is empowering other people to give back and get involved.

Otherwise what's the point of it if it stops with you? It's a pointless exercise and far too egocentric for my liking.

NICK MOONEY: Trying to keep people in touch with wildlife. Empathy breeds sympathy which usually breeds a bit of positive action.

Most Tasmanians vilified devils 20 years ago and thousands were killed in horrible ways each year and it still happens occasionally.

I was on properties the other day where thylacines were killed only 100 years ago and devils were killed only decades ago. And here we are contemplating devils as if we were having an interview about thylacines a decade ago. It's quite bizarre to see such a rapid change.

LUCY SHANNON: Despite being a public servant, Nick Mooney has always managed to be fairly outspoken and unlike many others he's not interested in taking a parting shot at the bureaucracy.

NICK MOONEY: I found the system far less odious to work within than I've often heard people describe. If you pick a fight try and pick one you've got a hope of winning.

There's nothing glorious in dying in a ditch over something on proncipal.

LUCY SHANNON: That doesn't mean he agrees with the general direction Tasmania is heading in.

NICK MOONEY: Half of Tasmania is hell bent on making Tasmania just like somewhere else in Victoria or mainland Australia and not being somewhere special. The other half is hell bent on keeping Tasmania as somewhere outstanding.

And I've always noted that the rest of the world seems to change very quickly and why do we have to change as quickly or make the same mistakes over again?

LUCY SHANNON: When it's not devils in the headlines it's often foxes. The wildlife biologist has no doubt the devastating species is present in Tasmania and threatening countless local species.

NICK MOONEY: Except for climate change it's certainly the biggest issue for wildlife in Tasmania since the last ice age I feel. There's no question about that.

The best people in the world at eradication of pests on islands are some organisations in New Zealand. They say you can do it. This is what you've got to do that. You've got to do more baiting, you've got to be more aggressive, you've got to disregard the super sceptics and just get on with it.

LUCY SHANNON: Are you confident about keeping them out of Tasmania?

NICK MOONEY: No I'm not, I'm not completely confident at all simply because they're have a, they're an invasive species, they have a history of successful invasion.

But people have got rid of them albeit on much smaller islands than Tasmania using techniques available to us. The public have to be prepared to take some risks with these techniques.

We have to use poisons a lot of people don't like. They are the best poisons for getting rid of foxes.

LUCY SHANNON: Foxes and devils have taken so much of his time in recent years other projects have been put on the back burner.

NICK MOONEY: Well I'm not actually retiring; I'm leaving work, which is a bit different. I've actually got to leave work to finish work in the oddest way.

Work has got a lot more crowded in the last few years. We seem to collect projects and issues we have to deal with. So often you have to walk away from something unfinished.

Some of those things I want to get back and finish and I really can't do them at work. And I've got an awful backlog to publish.

LUCY SHANNON: So while next week will be spent clearing out the office, the week after Nick Mooney will become a volunteer.

NICK MOONEY: There's plenty of dignity in that. And I hope to be continually engaged and asked to do things an asked for help. Again, I feel an obligation to give something back because I've had a fantastic run.